The political cycle never seems to end for the ordinary voter. While the 2018 cycle will close on Nov. 6, the 2019-20 cycle will immediately begin on Nov. 7.
Speculation about Democratic challengers to President Trump will begin in earnest while Sen. Gardner’s reelection prospects will be analyzed. Here are a few observations about the end of the 2018 cycle that will hopefully start Jefferson County out better for the next cycle.

Eight candidates at a forum on Oct. 24 primarily discussed taxes, financial issues and growth in the county and state, but the questions that got the audience most riled dealt with gun and immigration issues.
Some of the approximately 100 audience members at the Venue Theatre in Conifer needed to be quieted as candidates discussed whether gun-control measures and sanctuary cities were good for Colorado.
The forum was sponsored by the Canyon Courier, and the Evergreen and Conifer chambers of commerce.

After piloting the idea for a year, Jeffco Open Space will permanently allow class-1 e-bikes on all trails.

“Looking at the numbers and the opportunity that this is offering our visitors and the feedback that we’re getting on it, we would like to turn this pilot into policy,” said Mary Ann Bonnell, visitors services manager with Jeffco Open Space, during an Oct. 23 staff briefing with the commissioners.

West Metro Fire Rescue is proposing a balanced budget of nearly $70.2 million in which the department continues to rely heavily on property taxes from both Jefferson and Douglas County residents.

The full-service fire agency, which covers more than 108 square miles in two counties and serves nearly 280,000 residents, is expecting to bring in approximately $51.7 million in property taxes from Jeffco with an additional $1.7 million from Douglas County. Both amounts are just slightly more than what was budgeted for in 2018.